Hiding and Honesty with God
Month 1: In the Beginning — Knowing God · Heart Matters
Today's Scripture
Read together: Genesis 3:8–13 & 1 John 1:9
8 Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called out to the man, “Where are you?” 10 “I heard Your voice in the garden,” he replied, “and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11 “Who told you that you were naked?” asked the LORD God. “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 And the man answered, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “and I ate.” — Genesis 3:8–13
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:9
Memory Verse
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.””— Genesis 3:15 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Job 40–42
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 25 of 365 — Job repents, and God restores him.)The Heart of It
The very first thing sin made Adam and Eve do was hide. They heard God walking in the garden. This was the same God who had only ever been kind to them. And they ran for the trees. When God called, "Where are you?", He wasn't lost. He knew exactly where they were. He was inviting them to come out and be honest. But they didn't confess. Adam blamed Eve. He even hinted it was God's fault for giving her to him. Then Eve blamed the serpent. Hiding and blaming is still what every human heart does. That includes ours. When we do wrong, we cover up. We make excuses. We point fingers. We are just like our first parents.
But here is the tender good news your kids need to hold onto. God came looking for the hiders. He didn't wait for them to get their act together. He came after them right in their shame. And the door He opens for us is honesty. First promises, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." We never have to hide from a Father who already knows everything and still comes near. Confession isn't groveling to a God who is looking for a reason to be angry. It's running into the arms of a God who is looking for a reason to forgive. Teach your family this: the bravest, safest thing they can do with their sin is bring it into the light.
Around the Table
Adam and Eve hid from God behind the trees. But we never have to hide! We can tell God, "I'm sorry," and He hugs us close.
Let's do it: Play a quick game of hide-and-seek. Then talk about how God always finds us because He loves us.
When we do wrong, we want to hide or blame someone else. But God wants us to be honest instead.
Let's talk: What's the difference between making an excuse and really saying sorry?
Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. Confession means owning my sin instead of pushing it onto someone else.
Let's go deeper: Is there something you've been hiding or making excuses for? What would it look like to bring it into the light tonight?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's the silliest hiding spot you ever tried as a little kid? Did the grown-ups still find you? God always knows where we are. And He comes to us in love.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Why trust a Bible that shows its "heroes" behaving so badly? They hide. They lie. They blame. But that honesty is actually a mark of its truthfulness. Made-up religions flatter people. The Bible tells us the unflattering truth about ourselves. And it tells us the wonderful truth about a God who forgives. We can give that reason "with gentleness and respect" (), because it's a hope, not just a point to win an argument.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Dad, your kids will learn whether God is safe to confess to largely by watching whether you are safe to confess to. If honesty in your home is met with explosion and shame, children learn to hide. They hide from you, and eventually from God. But if honesty is met with grace and truth together, they learn that confession leads to freedom. So model it yourself. Be quick to say "I was wrong, will you forgive me?" to your wife and children. And remember that God's "Where are you?" was not a trap. It was a rescue. The aim of discipline in a gospel home is never to crush the hider. It is to draw them out into the light, where grace can do its healing work.
Draws on: Paul Tripp, Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that we never have to hide from You. You know everything about us, and You still come close. Help us be honest about our sin. Help us be quick to trust Your forgiveness. Thank You for washing us clean through Jesus. In Jesus' name, amen."
I don't have to hide. My Father comes looking for me with grace.